Book Review: Kawaii Doggies by Olive Yong

Title: Kawaii Doggies

Author: Olive Yong
Genre: Art - Drawing - Kawaii - Animals
Publisher: Rock Point - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9780760379851
Read: March 20, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: Learn to draw all kinds of cute dogs doing all sorts of silly things through 75 step-by-step tutorials. 

Whether you are “team dog” or “team cat,” dogs have idiosyncrasies that we all find entertaining! In Kawaii Doggies, the follow-up and perfect companion to Kawaii Kitties, popular Instagram artist Olive Yong (@bichimao) perfectly captures these moments, including playing, sleeping, eating, digging, chasing their tails, being good buddies, wearing cute costumes, and more, along with how to draw your favorite breeds and puppies. 

In addition to the easy-to-follow tutorials, Olive shares: 

• An introduction to the kawaii art aesthetic 
• Suggestions for drawing tools 
• Tips and tricks for drawing and coloring your dogs 
• A facial expression directory 
• Coloring pages swarming with pups for you to decorate 

So, get ready to perfect your drawing skills, as well as be inspired to create your own dog characters or illustrate the daily activities of your favorite pet.

Review: Dogs are full of personality, goofy, lovable, and Olive Yong has made them even more adorable in Kawaii Doggies. But this book is far more than a how-to manual for drawing your favorite drool-machine.

In addition to step-by-step instructions for drawing your own cute doggies, Yong takes the reader on a basic tutorial of kawaii-style drawing: what is it, tools of the trade, and how to get the most out of the book's tips and tricks. After mastering the basics, Yong teaches facial expressions, poses and moods, capturing daily activities and dress-up, favorite breeds and puppies, and so much more. 

Overall, Kawaii Doggies is a great addition to the Kawaii Doodles book series and perfect for anyone interested in the art of kawaii or someone looking to try something a little different with their art.

Book Review: The Nine Lives of Summer by Jem Vanston

Title: The Nine Lives of Summer

Author: Jem Vanston
Genre: Fiction - Animals - Cats
Publisher: Two Fat Cats Publishing - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: March 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781399944238
Read: March 19, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Trigger Warnings: This book contains references to war, death, suffering, and animal abuse.

Synopsis from Publisher: One cat, nine lives and a quest to find a way home 

Summer is a cat living happily with ten-year-old girl Sami and her family in Syria. Then the war comes. Sami and her parents are forced to make the heart-wrenching decision to flee as refugees, leaving Summer behind. On her journey through nine lives in a dozen countries, Summer discovers her purpose – to find Sami again. The quest leads Summer all over the world, meeting diverse people from a vast array of cultures and backgrounds, through exciting adventures and heart-break, desperate struggle and survival. But she never ever gives up hoping and searching. 

Will Summer ever find Sami, and be reunited with her family in her furever home once again?

Review: If you're a regular reader of Memento Nerdy Reviews, you know I love animals, especially cats. I've been fortunate to share much of my life with these furry, funny, fabulous creatures so I was excited to read The Nine Lives of Summer by Jem Vanston, but my heart was not ready to face the heartache contained within these pages, and yet I'm happy I read the book for it's wondrous tale of a love that transcends lifetimes.

Vanston's depictions of war-torn Syria are gut-wrenching, as are the trials faced by Summer (the cat) and her family. The emotional parting between Summer and her beloved Sami struck a deep chord within me because I've had to make the hard decision to leave a beloved furbaby behind in order to move to a new place. (Granted, I wasn't in a war-torn area and was eventually reunited with my furry companion because I was able to leave him with family, but it still dredged up some painful memories.) However, Sami leaving Summer behind is only the beginning of the emotional rollercoaster ride Vanston has created.

Through years and multiple lives, Summer is always looking to be reunited with Sami. Some of the lives are long and comfortable. Some are short and filled with struggle. All of these combine to create an incredible journey that is both life-affirming and guaranteed to hit you right in the feels...hard. At times poignant, humorous, sad, and harrowing, the end result is a tale that makes me hug my own kitties a little tighter in appreciation for their companionship and endless love. 

Overall, The Nine Lives of Summer is perfect for anyone who likes animal stories, but be warned--this book will make you ugly-cry. Also, it may not be suitable for young kids as it does contain a couple of graphic scenes as told from a cat's point of view.

Book Review: The Unofficial Princess Bride Cookbook by Cassandra Reeder

Title: The Unofficial Princess Bride Cookbook

Author: Cassandra Reeder
Genre: Cookbook - Geek Culture
Publisher: becker & mayer! books - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9780760377567
Read: March 18, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: With 50 food and drink recipes, The Unofficial Princess Bride Cookbook is perfect for fans who want to get a taste of the action along with some fun and interesting trivia. 

There are few movies that can be easily identified by a single word or quote, let alone close to forty. From “As You Wish” and “Inconceivable” to “Have Fun Storming the Castle” and “My Name is Inigo Montoya,” The Princess Bride left an everlasting mark on pop culture. 

In celebration of the movie’s 35th anniversary in 2022, The Unofficial Princess Bride Cookbook is the perfect book for fans of all its beloved characters, and the indelible quotes that have made it one of the most quoted movies of all time. 

Some of the iconic recipes include: 

• Albino’s Pre-Torture Nourishment 
• MLT: Mutton, Lettuce, and Tomato 
• Shrieking Eel Pie 
• “The Tuna Fish Discrepancy” 
• Fezzik’s Restorative Stew 
• Four White Horses 
• “Mostly Dead” Corpse Reviver 
• And so many more! 

Try out these iconic and fan-favorite recipes and relate to your favorite Princess Bride characters and story through food and trivia with The Unofficial Princess Bride Cookbook!

Review: I'm a huge fan of The Princess Bride, and like any good fan, I can practically quote the entire movie. So, naturally, when I learned that The Geeky Chef, Cassandra Reeder, was penning an "unofficial" cookbook in honor of one of the most iconic movies of all times, my first thought was "Inconceivable!" but then I wondered just how many recipes could one pull from said movie. After reading through Reeder's take on the movie's food moments, I ask myself how I ever doubted.

Filled with trivia from the film and an array of mouth-watering recipes, Reeder manages to tie in far more recipes than were mentioned in the movie. (If you aren't drooling after simply looking at the pictures, something's amiss.) Covering everything from drinks and cocktails to appetizers to main courses to desserts, you'll marvel at creativity behind each recipe. 

And have no fear fellow vegan Princess Bride fans--Reeder includes suggestions for vegan, vegetarian, and kosher substitutions! (Inclusivity for the win!) A section for planning the perfect Princess Bride party is also included so you can take movie night to a whole new level of geekiness! Why am I using so many exclamation points?! I have no idea! 

Overall, if you're a fan of the film or know someone who is, The Unofficial Princess Bride Cookbook will be a welcomed edition to the kitchen. Now, don't forget your holocaust cloaks and have fun storming the castle!

Book Review: Vegan Barbecue by Terry Sargent

Title: Vegan Barbecue

Author: Terry Sargent
Genre: Cookbook - Barbecue - Vegan
Publisher: Harvard Common Press - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9780760377895
Read: March 18, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: Learn how to slow-smoke all sorts of veggies, fruits, vegan meats, and vegan cheeses in this beautifully photographed book that features 100 soul-satisfying recipes filled with flavor and spice. 

At last! Now vegans and vegetarians, plus the millions of omnivores and carnivores who are eating more plant-based meals, are invited to join the authentic smoke-cooked BBQ party! Barbecue is famous, of course, as a way to cook meat—but meat is not the only thing you can cook in a smoker. Cooking low and slow over natural wood embers, the core method of genuine ’Q, infuses produce and other plant-based foods, like tofu and tempeh, with rich depths of rustic flavor that you won’t get from a stovetop skillet or steamer. 

Author Terry Sargent is the face of vegan barbecue. Southern Living magazine’s “Cook of the Year” for 2021, Terry has perfected the art of vegan barbecue at his renowned Grass Vegan BBQ Joint outside Atlanta. In this definitive book on the subject, he serves up easy-to-prepare recipes for amazing dishes like: 

• Smoked Pineapple Salsa 
• Glazed Smoked Asparagus 
• Smoked Creamy Pumpkin Soup 
• Smoked Mushroom and Vegan Carnitas Tacos 
• Smoky Ratatouille 
• Smoke-Roasted Faux Turkey 

You can master these and nearly a hundred more healthy, plant-based, smoky, and vibrant recipes with Terry’s masterful and fun book as your guide. From sides and desserts to dozens of meat-free main courses, from skewers and kebabs to burgers and tacos, this is a book that takes vegan cooking—and BBQ itself!—in an incredibly exciting new direction.

Review: Being vegan in the South isn't easy, and one of the hardest examples of "going vegan" is the ubiquitous BBQ-culture. After all, barbecue is comfort food around here, and well, Terry Sargent has given Southern vegan a reason to rejoice and fire up the grill just in time for summer!

There are so many recipes in this book that I hardly know where to begin. Sargent takes you on a culinary journey through the South, but everything is vegan so you can enjoy your barbecue without feeling guilty. Not to mention the recipes are so hearty and mouth-watering that even the most die-hard carnivore will be asking for a bite. Covering everything from spices, rubs, and sauces to sandwiches and "meaty" main courses to sweets and drinks, Vegan Barbecue has something for everyone--even the little ones! (Carrot "hotdogs"...mmm, sooo good!)

Whether you're an established vegan, a newbie, or just looking to try a few meatless dishes to see what all the fuss is about, Vegan Barbecue is sure to please. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a grill to light. 

Book Review: The Aleister Crowley Manual by Marco Visconti

Title: The Aleister Crowley Manual

Author: Marco Visconti
Genre: Thelema - Magic - Witchcraft
Publisher: Watkins Publishing - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: February 14, 2023
ISBN: 9781786787361
Read: March 1-18, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: Marco Visconti has taught Aleister Crowley's Magick to hundreds of aspirants, proving to himself and others its transmutative powers. This book brings together the effective techniques and practices from those lessons. We all live very busy lives in increasingly small spaces, but this book shows that to practice magick you don’t need fancy tools or robes or marbles halls. Magick is truly for everyone, because all you need to practice it is a will set in stone. 

Each chapter in this manual is a lesson, which will add a new tool to your magical arsenal: 

• the nature of the Body of Light 
• what Prana is and how to harness it 
• the 4 Hermetic Elements that make up the foundations of the Magical Pyramid 
• the Quintessence 
• the Pentagram 
• Hexagram rituals 
• the Astral Light invoked through the Middle Pillar 

The benefits gained from bringing Magick into your life are manifold. You will gain a deeper understanding of your role in the universe, the ability to communicate with the Other, and the wisdom that comes from such relationships. Overall these practices offer a new and deeper sense of awareness of your own role in the universe.

Review: I freely admit my understanding of Thelema as a philosophy and spiritual path are limited, as is my overall knowledge of Aleister Crowley. After reading Marco Visconti's book, however, I don't feel as though either has increased all that much.

While Visconti seems to know his subjects rather well, his explanations of Thelema are rudimentary and lack true depth in what is an otherwise complex area of study. I've read other Thelema and magick-based books, some of which are reviewed here and accessible via the archives, and Visconti covers nothing that isn't already available in other books and with more clarity. Also, it's difficult to take an author who claims to have years of experience and accumulated knowledge seriously when they quote Wikipedia as their primary research source. Sorry, but Wikipedia doesn't even pass muster in the most basic of English composition courses. Either provide actual scholarly works or resources that are considered "sacred" to your particular philosophy/spiritual path as a backup or don't include the information at all.

Perhaps the only true reason to read this book is for the list of other books and websites on the subjects of Thelema and Crowley included at the back. However, even these can be found with a quick Google search so...yeah....

Book Review: How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Title: How To Sell A Haunted House

Author: Grady Hendrix
Genre: Horror - Supernatural Thriller - Ghosts
Publisher: Berkley - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: January 17, 2023
ISBN: 9780593201268
Read: March 28-30, 2023
Disclaimer: I purchased a hardcover copy via Amazon. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world. 

Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market. 

But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…

Review: Dear Grady Hendrix... Get out of my freakin' head!

As a born-and-raised Southerner, How To Sell A Haunted House hits just a liiiiiittttllllle too close to home. (No pun intended.) Why do I say this? Well, let's see... 

Book: Protagonist suddenly loses both parent. 

Me: Lost both parents suddenly but years apart.

Book: Protagonist must contend with colorful family members.

Me: I mentioned I'm from the South, right? Colorful family members are the only family members we have down here.

Book: Puppets are central to the plot.

Me: Was a part of a puppet troupe in high school and knows the ins and outs of such all too well.

Book: Creepy dolls galore.

Me: Loves creepy dolls...except clowns. Clowns are creepy in general.

Therefore, I must kindly ask Mr. Hendrix to please refrain from getting into my head when searching for material for his next book. (Naturally, I jest. I have no relationship with Mr. Hendrix--personal, professional, puppet-based, or otherwise in this realm of existence or any other.)

Needless to say, I loved this book. Even though the arguments between Louise and her brother, Mark, became a little tedious because they kept stomping over the same patch of ground, they were still believable as siblings. It's in the nature of Southern siblings to drag up every hurt and slight ever committed against one another. If there's one things Southern family are good at it's holding grudges. The other is keeping secrets, and there are plenty of both in How To Sell A Haunted House. There are also plenty of creepy dolls. So many creepy dolls.

Overall, if you're looking for a modern-day Gothic ghost story, check out How To Sell A Haunted House. You'll never look at dolls, or your family, the same way again.

An Apology and The Eviction of The Drama Llamas

Dear Readers, Authors, and Publishers,

I deeply apologize for my recent prolonged absence. Unfortunately, as often happens in life, circumstances beyond my control lead to my not being able to keep up with the influx of requests and post reviews for those books I've read in recent weeks. 

However, I'm now happy to say that the majority of the issues that were keeping me from updating Memento Nerdy Reviews have been resolved. Regular posting will return April 1, 2023, as soon as The Drama Llamas have packed up the remainder of their crap, loaded into their van, and sped down the highway to live their best lives...somewhere else.

Drama Llama GIFfrom Drama GIFs

Thank you to all who have reached out to inquire as to the status of MNR and to those who have continued to request reviews for books. I'm working to catch up on my responses to you all. If I have not yet responded to your message, please know that I will be doing so in the near future.

Again, my sincerest apologies for not updating everyone sooner. I look forward to some peace and quiet and a return to normalcy, which for me is somewhere between The Addams Family/The Munsters and a thermonuclear explosion causing the rise of gigantic mutants hellbent on destroying the world as we know it. You know, the usual.

With much love and darkness,

J